Pictures: Sir David Attenborough enthrals an audience in York

Broadcaster, naturalist and national treasurer Sir David Attenborough was in York today (Friday) and received a rapturous welcome.

The man who has brought so much of the natural world into our living rooms was the guest of honour at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s 70th birthday celebrations.

Now 90, Sir David enraptured a sell-out 1,100-strong audience at the Central Hall, York University.

He told the audience that conservation has never been more important, and urged everyone to continue to support the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – the second oldest in the country.

After his speech he answered questions from the audience. One person asked him what was the most dangerous animal he had ever encountered.

There was no creature more dangerous than a man, who possibly didn’t speak your language, and was drunk, and was carrying a loaded gun, Sir David said. And at this time and in this part of the world, that was particularly poignant.

At the end of the Q&A the audience rose to its feet to give him a standing ovation.

Earlier Sir David, best known for a series of award-winning nature documentaries from Life On Earth to Conquest of the Skies, had cut the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s birthday cake and received a present from the trust.